The Great Big SE4 & SE23 Raffle
Inspired by the idea of SE22 local Victoria, Nicola and Amanda are hosting The Great Big SE4 and SE23 Raffle to support their local small, independent businesses. The Covid-19 pandemic has hit these businesses hard, being the heart and soul of the community and facing the most trying times as they battle through adapted models of operation or are currently forced to remain closed. Through the purchase of tickets, currently in excess of 6200 sold, the raffle funds buying products and services from these indies, to help them find their way forward. Both women are passionate about the community and the impact it has, and have looked for a way to repay the spirit - in particular for Amanda, who found so much support from individuals and businesses in 2019 after the birth of a very poorly baby. Along with many prizes from local businesses there is one very special prize - a 7 night stay for up to 6 people in Prado Lobero, Candeleda, Spain. This is a BONUS prize, that has been kindly donated by a Brockley resident who saw a post about the raffle in the I Love SE4 Facebook group. She wants absolutely nothing in return - she just really wanted to do something to help support the raffle and local independent businesses, as well as give people in the local community something 6 | SE23 - May 2020
to look forward to. She also sees the donation of the prize as a show of support for the village of Candeleda where the cottage is located, which like many other Spanish village communities has been hit hard by the Covid-19 crisis. Here is what she said: “We all need something to look forward to in 2021! So we are offering as a prize a 7 night stay in the delightful cottage of Prado Lobero in Candeleda, Spain – about 2 hours West of Madrid. The cottage sleeps 6 people and is set in a large meadow on the Southern slopes of the Gredos Mountains. With gorgeous views and terraces on which to sip a glass of wine or “refresco”, it has its own swimming pool and garden and is the ideal place to just do nothing! It also has incredible nature and bird life, fabulous walking, mountain biking, horse riding and wild water swimming. Perfect for recovery from 2020 Covid-19 year. The village of Candeleda, like so many others in Spain which depend on visitors and tourism, has been having a terrible time in recent weeks. Local jobless levels, already high, are now at record levels (over 50%), the army and police have been controlling entrance and exit into the town, shopping has only been allowed once a week depending on the number on your national ID card and no outdoor exercise has been allowed at all. In addition, the town has a high proportion of vulnerable older residents with so many younger families migrating to cities like Madrid to try to make ends meet. By entering the raffle you are helping local independent businesses in SE London, but if you win this prize you will also helping to rebuild a vibrant local community in Spain!” You can still buy raffle tickets via: https://raffall.com/15277/enter-raffle-to-win-thegreat-big-se4-se23-raffle-hosted-by-nicola-johnson @bigseraffle @BigSERaffle @BigSERaffle
